Dial options for Day Date

[jzzmn88]

Hello everyone. I am in the market for a Day Date, been reading and looking as much as I can at various model iterations throughout the years. One thing I noticed is that the 18038's seem to have more variations in dial colors but the current 118238's don't have, for instance, red or blue dials as an option. Was that ever an option for the 118238? I guess if i want a colored dial, then I am going to have to look at a vintage piece?

A separate question for those that own a 18038 or 18238, any regrets not getting a modern 118238?

[Maiden]

Absolutely no regrets grabbing a 18238. I had a choice over the 118238. I just loved the tapestry dial, raised crystal, and brushed lugs. Seemed to suit the watch more. Can’t lose with any day date.


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[jzzmn88]

Maiden, thank you for your comment. Your DD is stunning!

[rmlovett1]

You’re looking solely for a 36mm I presume ? I think there’s many more options color wise, over the years for the 36mm, vs the modern DDII or DD40.

[c41006]

The main advantage of a 6 digit DD is the upgraded bracelet at least in my opinion. Nothing wrong with going with an older piece though especially if that is the only way you can get the dial you want.

[huncho]

i don't think a 18238 bracelet will stretch much from what i read on this site but the 6 digit is about 30% heavier due to having solid links so it depends if that is worth paying more for you

[ronricks]

Originally Posted by jzzmn88

Hello everyone. I am in the market for a Day Date, been reading and looking as much as I can at various model iterations throughout the years. One thing I noticed is that the 18038's seem to have more variations in dial colors but the current 118238's don't have, for instance, red or blue dials as an option. Was that ever an option for the 118238? I guess if i want a colored dial, then I am going to have to look at a vintage piece?

A separate question for those that own a 18038 or 18238, any regrets not getting a modern 118238?

18038 and 18238 have a lot of dial options. 18038 is single quick set and about .2 or .3 mm thicker case than the 18238 which is double quick set. Both have raised crystal, brushed lugs, and non solid link bracelet.

118238 is double quick and has a domed crystal and polished lugs and solid link bracelet that is about 33% heavier. Some say they can tell a difference and others can’t.

In my opinion you can’t go wrong with any of them.

[jzzmn88]

Originally Posted by Richris1

You’re looking solely for a 36mm I presume ? I think there’s many more options color wise, over the years for the 36mm, vs the modern DDII or DD40.

I'm open to the new 40mm size but I love the classic 36mm look and feel. Thank you for chiming in.

[jzzmn88]

Originally Posted by ronricks

18038 and 18238 have a lot of dial options. 18038 is single quick set and about .2 or .3 mm thicker case than the 18238 which is double quick set. Both have raised crystal, brushed lugs, and non solid link bracelet.

118238 is double quick and has a domed crystal and polished lugs and solid link bracelet that is about 33% heavier. Some say they can tell a difference and others can’t.

In my opinion you can’t go wrong with any of them.

Thank you for all the helpful info! I'm gravitating towards the 18038 or 18238 due to the dial options but also for the brushed lugs. I prefer the "matte" look of the vintage pieces.

[Jace]

Here are two dial variations of the 40 mm. The sky blue is platinum and the rhodium tapestry is white gold. The sky blue is only available on platinum but you can also get the rhodium dial on platinum as well. Yellow gold variations are much more extensive.

There are not as many Dial variations on the 40 mm as there are on the 36 mm. This is probably a function of how long it’s been around. The nice thing about Rolex, especially 36 mm rolexes is that it is pretty easy to change the dial.

Regarding older 36 mm day dates, the biggest issue is bracelet stretch. This is one of the reasons it went from hollow end links to solid. Recently the bracelet was switched to the pins having ceramic liners which do not allow for pins stretch. This was supposedly eliminate the problem. Time will tell.

Even though 36 mm sounds small by today’s standards, this watch has incredible wrist presence and certainly wears much bigger than it’s listed. Can’t go wrong with any of the above.




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[BentleyReese]

18038 have more dial options because of the years people get aftermarket dials put in them. for the 18238...yes factory blue dials stick index is common. SO be careful when getting a 18038...if the color is off and you don't see alot of them...it could be custom.

[BentleyReese]

typically colors are white, black, champagne, silver, blue, ivory, blue....

[fskywalker]

Suggest you look for a 18238 or a 118238 so you get double quick set on the day and date. My 18239 says hi!




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[Green Arrow]

Most watches I have owned are large including my current Omega 45.5 mm POC. But I find the 36 mm size to seem "right"in a yellow gold 18036. The "bad" is that the tritium on the original dial has long ago died. A modern 6 digit could have active lume. I don't know if my watch bracelet has ever been worked on but there is virtually no stretch.

[Bigcigardan]

The older models did imho had better dial options. I would suggest your buy a double quick version as the movement is newer/modern. But either way can't go wrong with any DD as it's classic!



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[nocaps]

i chose a 5 digit day-date because i’m a big fan of the bark bracelet.


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[roosvelt]

Get a 18038 better dial options, nice light balanced braclet with out the big bulky usless newer clasp . Save a tom a money over the new ref !

[Verdi]

I like the black dial for the DD but I see very few like this.

Imo, the day window stands out better on a black dial.

[Bigcigardan]

Originally Posted by nocaps

i chose a 5 digit day-date because i’m a big fan of the bark bracelet.


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cheers.
Nothing like a Bark!


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[ian.thomas]

Not mine, but I've always been a fan of the Lapis dial.

[nocaps]

here is a list of 5 digit dial colors that was forwarded to me from another member.
this will make your decision making either extremely easy or extremely hard!

https://www.rolexforums.com/showthread.php?t=387926

[lecorsaire]

While I like the 5 digit models, it’s always better to go with a 6 digit here. The polished case looks better imo and the dials and bracelets are better. If gold, then champagne is really the best choice. For white gold, your whites, silvers, blacks are very nice. I love the olive dual on the RG 40.

[Mephist]

Originally Posted by Maiden

Absolutely no regrets grabbing a 18238. I had a choice over the 118238. I just loved the tapestry dial, raised crystal, and brushed lugs. Seemed to suit the watch more. Can’t lose with any day date.


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In my opinion the Tapestry dial is the most beautiful of all the Rolex dial's so I would also go for the one above. However, Does not the vintage tapestry dial fit on a 118238?

I know with Datejust many of the older dials from the late 90's and early 2000's fit's on the new six digit references. Only thing that does not fit are the old hands. Maybe it is the same for Day-Date?

[fskywalker]

Originally Posted by Mephist

In my opinion the Tapestry dial is the most beautiful of all the Rolex dial's so I would also go for the one above. However, Does not the vintage tapestry dial fit on a 118238?



I know with Datejust many of the older dials from the late 90's and early 2000's fit's on the new six digit references. Only thing that does not fit are the old hands. Maybe it is the same for Day-Date?

Yes a tapestry dial from an older 18238 movement would fit a 118238 as they share the same movement



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[lecorsaire]

Originally Posted by Mephist

In my opinion the Tapestry dial is the most beautiful of all the Rolex dial's so I would also go for the one above. However, Does not the vintage tapestry dial fit on a 118238?

I know with Datejust many of the older dials from the late 90's and early 2000's fit's on the new six digit references. Only thing that does not fit are the old hands. Maybe it is the same for Day-Date?

It should fit BUT you loose the great lume from the modern stick dials. Don't get me wrong the gold sticks look nice too but it's better to have the nice lume from the six digit models. Those small pips probably don't light up if they're tritium and most if not all of them are. There are probably some luminova dials from the late '90s but probably not tapestry. The new tapestry dials on the 40s solve this problem.